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cnbc.com
AMD shares drop as forecast comes up short of some expectations
AMD's first-quarter forecast fell short of what some analysts were hoping for amid an AI spending boom.
cnbc.com
Nvidia's Jensen Huang denies OpenAI deal rumors: 'There's no drama'
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said the chipmaker's plan to invest in OpenAI remains "on track."
cnbc.com
Palantir stock rallies after company beats earnings estimates
The rise comes on the back of months of decline for the stock.
cnbc.com
Pfizer says obesity injection shows promise as monthly treatment in mid-stage trial
The data on Pfizer's GLP-1 offer early evidence that the injection can be administered less frequently than existing drugs without sacrificing efficacy.
cnbc.com
Pfizer beats quarterly estimates despite Covid product decline, reaffirms modest outlook
The pharmaceutical giant reaffirmed the modest 2026 outlook that rattled investors in December.
cnbc.com
U.S. military says it shot down Iranian drone that 'aggressively approached' aircraft carrier
U.S. Central Command said the drone approached the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea with "unclear intent."
cnbc.com
PepsiCo's drink sales are improving, and it's planning to cut snack prices
PepsiCo reported fourth-quarter earnings and revenue that topped Wall Street's estimates.
cnbc.com
Merck tops quarterly estimates, posts modest 2026 guidance as generic competition looms
Merck posted a modest 2026 outlook that fell short of estimates, as it prepares for some drugs to go off patent later this year and face generic competition.
cnbc.com
Apple adds agents from Anthropic and OpenAI to its coding tool
Apple is introducing agentic coding to Xcode, jumping into one of the biggest trends in technology.
cnbc.com
Intel is moving into GPUs and has hired a chief architect, CEO Lip-Bu Tan says
Nvidia and AMD are leaders in the GPUs, which power large language models and have skyrocketed in demand with the data center buildout.
cnbc.com
How global shadow fleet of crude tankers is navigating high seas hunt for sanctioned Russian, Iranian, Venezuelan oil
President Trump says India will stop buying sanctioned Russian oil in trade deal, but data shows shadow fleet vessels on the move evading global enforcement.
cnbc.com
Gold and silver rebound, pulling global mining stocks and precious metal ETFs higher
Gold and silver prices rebounded after suffering a historic selloff, with analysts suggesting that the recent violent correction was more a positioning reset.
cnbc.com
Trump refuses to be outdone by Europe, signing his own U.S.-India trade deal
The U.S. deal comes after global trading partners have been signing trade pacts, leaving America looking ostracized and more isolated.
cnbc.com
Who is Josh D'Amaro, Disney's next CEO?
D'Amaro's appointment to the top job once again brings to the fore Disney's storied history in park-going at a time of massive growth for the division.
theguardian.com
Epstein called Mandelson ‘devious’ after he lobbied bank to back mining project
In 2010 then business secretary contacted Jes Staley, then at JP Morgan, about funding for £700m listing on London Stock ExchangeJeffrey Epstein described Peter Mandelson as “devious” after lobbying a bank to underwrite a mining project launched by their mutual friend Nat Rothschild, emails included in the latest tranche of Epstein files suggest.In April 2010, the then business secretary appears to have contacted banker Jes Staley, then at JP Morgan, from his personal email account in what appears to be an attempt to secure funding for Rothschild, Mandelson’s longtime friend. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Elon Musk is taking SpaceX’s minority shareholders for a ride | Nils Pratley
Merger with loss-making xAI looks to some investors more like a bailout than a rocket trip to the futureElon Musk merges SpaceX with xAI at $1.25tn valuationTo Elon Musk’s fanclub, there is nothing to see apart from more evidence of the great man’s visionary genius. SpaceX, the rocket firm, is buying xAI, the artificial intelligence developer, and the combination of these two Musk-controlled entities is being valued at $1.25tn (£910bn). Feel the positive vibes ahead of a stock market debut due in June! The most valuable private company in history! The largest ever transaction!Or, as Musk described it, he is creating “the most ambitious, vertically integrated innovation engine on (and off) Earth, with AI, rockets, space-based internet, direct-to-mobile device communications and the world’s foremost real-time information and free-speech platform”. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Disney names Josh D'Amaro as new chief executive
The media giant chooses the head of its amusement park business to replace longtime boss Bob Iger.
bbc.com
Walmart becomes first retailer to hit $1tn market value
The milestone reflects the US retail giant's booming e-commerce business and investors' embrace of its AI investments.
theguardian.com
‘Finally got him to go’: how Epstein was given inside track on events that rippled through global markets
Apparent leak by Peter Mandelson gave advance notice of Gordon Brown’s resignation and €500bn eurozone dealOn a brisk Monday evening in May 2010, Gordon Brown stood on the steps of Downing Street and delivered one of the most dramatic announcements of the New Labour era: his resignation as UK prime minister.The decision came days after a nail-biting general election that left no single party with a clear run at No 10. Brown kept his decision, which followed days of political wrangling, to a tight inner circle. Nick Clegg, who would go on to serve as deputy prime minister of the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition, was formally told of Brown’s resignation only 10 minutes before the announcement. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Novo Nordisk shares tumble after company warns of sales hit this year
The company is banking on its Wegovy pill and next-generation weight loss injectable CagriSema to recapture share of the key U.S. market.
cnbc.com
Trump Project Vault stockpile will include any minerals listed as ‘critical’ by Interior Department
The stockpile is the latest move by the Trump administration to build a Western supply chain to counter China's dominance in critical minerals.
bbc.com
PepsiCo to cut some US snack prices after backlash
The snack conglomerate is cutting the price of products including Doritos, Cheetos and Lays
theguardian.com
The law on service charges is grossly unfair | Letters
Leaseholders have little or no control over service charges – the system needs urgent attention, writes Chris Wallis.While your editorial on leasehold reform (29 January) is right to say that action on ground rents is long overdue, as is the abolition of leasehold altogether, and that the right to manage is a key part of leaseholders taking control of their buildings, it misses a key point: the law around service charges is archaic and deeply unfair.As it currently stands, unless they manage their buildings themselves, leaseholders have little or no control over what service charges are issued, and while the law says they are entitled to see the accounts, managing agents frequently either fail to supply them or do so in a form that does not, quite literally, add up. Forensic accountants would have a field day. And legally, leaseholders are obliged to pay these charges and then challenge them, usually at the first-tier tribunal, where the precedent is that as long as the charges are necessary, ie the work is necessary, and reasonable, ie the cost is reasonable, they have to be paid. The reason for the charge arising in the first place is irrelevant. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
From ‘nerdy’ Gemini to ‘edgy’ Grok: how developers are shaping AI behaviours
AIs are not sentient – but tweaks to their ethical codes can have far-reaching consequences for usersDo you want an AI assistant that gushes about how it “loves humanity” or one that spews sarcasm? How about a political propagandist ready to lie? If so, ChatGPT, Grok and Qwen are at your disposal.Companies that create AI assistants, from the US to China, are increasingly wrestling with how to mould their characters, and it is no abstract debate. This month Elon Musk’s “maximally truth-seeking” Grok AI caused international outrage when it pumped out millions of sexualised images. In October OpenAI retrained ChatGPT to de-escalate conversations with people in mental health distress after it appeared to encourage a 16-year-old to take his own life. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Enforcement is the issue on the decent homes standard | Letters
Dr Stephen Battersby fears that England could be doubling up on underresourced regulatory agenciesWhile the anger at the timeline for enforcing the decent homes standard (DHS) in England might be expected, it is also arguable that enforcing decent home standards is not as difficult as campaigners make out (‘Absurd’: decent homes standard for England’s private renters will not be enforced until 2035, 28 January).Local authorities already have powers and duties to deal with threats to health and safety in both the private rented sector and the social rented sector. The presence of a category 1 hazard would make the home non-decent and local authorities are already under a statutory duty to deal with these. Many of the factors in the revised DHS could give rise to category 2 hazards, which the authorities could also deal with. The issue is lack of enforcement by local authorities using the powers they have already under the Housing Act 2004. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
European stocks end flat as UK mining giants rise on metals rebound
European stocks ended flat Tuesday as global markets settled following a short-lived sell-off in cryptocurrencies and precious metals.
theguardian.com
Santander offers 98% mortgage for first-time buyers – with strict rules
Fixed-rate loan will not be available on flats and new-builds, and loan must be no more than 4.45 times salaryOne of Britain’s biggest banks has launched a mortgage that lets first-time buyers borrow up to 98% of the property’s value – but experts said the “very strict” rules would exclude many people and property types.Santander said this was the first time for years that a major high street bank had gone beyond the traditional 95% borrowing limit, and some mortgage brokers called it a “bold and significant” move that would help more first-time buyers achieve their home ownership dreams. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
UK privacy watchdog opens inquiry into X over Grok AI sexual deepfakes
Information Commissioner’s Office to investigate whether Elon Musk’s firms have complied with data protection lawElon Musk’s X and xAI companies are under formal investigation by the UK’s data protection watchdog after the Grok AI tool produced indecent deepfakes without people’s consent.The Information Commissioner’s Office is investigating whether the social media platform and its parent broke GDPR, the data protection law. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Ray Dalio warns the world is ‘on the brink’ of a capital war
The billionaire Bridgewater founder also weighed in on investing in gold after the metal was gripped by a sharp sell-off.
bbc.com
What's going on with the price of gold?
Gold has fallen from recent highs but there are several reasons investors are still finding refuge in the precious metal.
cnbc.com
Musk's xAI, SpaceX combo is the biggest merger of all time, valued at $1.25 trillion
The record-setting deal will be the largest merger of all time and is valued at $1.25 trillion
theguardian.com
The lithium boom: could a disused quarry bring riches to Cornwall?
Known as ‘white gold’, lithium is among the most important mined elements on the planet – ideal for the rechargeable batteries used in tech products. Can Europe’s largest deposit bring prosperity to the local community?It looks more like the past than the future. A vast chasm scooped out of a scarred landscape, this is a Cornwall the summer holidaymakers don’t see: a former china clay pit near St Austell called Trelavour. I’m standing at the edge of the pit looking down with the man who says his plans for it will help the UK’s transition to renewable energy and bring back year-round jobs and prosperity to a part of the country that badly needs both. “And if I manage to make some money in the process, fantastic,” he says. “Though that is not what it’s about.”We’ll return to him shortly. But first to the past, when this story begins, about 275-280m years ago. “There was a continental collision at the time,” Frances Wall, professor of applied mineralogy at the Camborne School of Mines at the University of Exeter, explained to me before my visit. This collision caused the bottom of the Earth’s crust to melt, with the molten material rising higher in the crust and forming granite. “There are lots of different types of granite that intrude at different times, more than 10m years or so,” she says. “The rock is made of minerals and, if you’ve got the right composition in the original material and the right conditions, then within those minerals there are some called mica. Some of those micas contain lithium.” Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Anthropic’s launch of AI legal tool hits shares in European data companies
Pearson, Experian and others fall sharply after startup unveils software to automate a range of professional servicesEuropean publishing and legal software companies have suffered sharp declines in their share prices after the US artificial intelligence startup Anthropic revealed a tool for use by companies’ legal departments.Anthropic, the company behind the chatbot Claude, said its tool could automate legal work such as contract reviewing, non-disclosure agreement triage, compliance workflows, legal briefings and templated responses. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Disney names parks boss Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO to succeed Bob Iger, effective March 18
Disney has named Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, as its next CEO, succeeding Bob Iger and clinching a closely watched succession race.
bbc.com
Stop watching Netflix and go to the pub, Welsh first minister says
Eluned Morgan said her government can't be expected "to step in and do the work" to save struggling pubs.
cnbc.com
Rare earth stocks jump after Trump launches $12 billion critical minerals stockpile
The moves come shortly after President Donald Trump announced the establishment of a U.S. critical mineral reserve.
theguardian.com
Disney names parks and cruises boss Josh D’Amaro as next CEO
D’Amaro will take over next month from Bob Iger, who returned to lead the media company after a bungled successionDisney has unveiled Josh D’Amaro as its next CEO, drawing a line under a bungled succession at the top of the global entertainment conglomerate.Bob Iger, who led the media giant for 15 years, stepped down in 2020 – only to abruptly return in 2022 when his handpicked successor, Bob Chapek, was fired as the company came under pressure. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Spain becomes first country in Europe to ban social media for under-16s
Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urges the protection of children from a "digital wild west."
theguardian.com
Disastrous start for US TikTok as users cry censorship
New US-owned app struggled with a storm and was accused of blocking content critical of Trump – can it recover?Hello, and welcome to TechScape. I’m Blake Montgomery, writing to you from Doha, where I’m moderating panels about AI and investing as part of the Web Summit Qatar.I want to bring your attention to the impact of a Guardian story. In December, we published a story, “‘A black hole’: families and police say tech giants delay investigations in child abuse and drug cases”, about grieving families and law enforcement officers who say that Meta and Snapchat have slowed down criminal investigations. (The tech companies contend that they cooperate.) This month, Colorado lawmakers introduced a bill to compel social media platforms to respond to warrants in 72 hours.Elon Musk had more extensive ties to Epstein than previously known, emails showTesla discontinues Model X and S vehicles as Elon Musk pivots to roboticsWhat is Moltbook? The strange new social media site for AI botsThe slopaganda era: 10 AI images posted by the White House – and what they teach usApple reports record iPhone sales as new lineup reignites worldwide demandSouth Korea’s ‘world-first’ AI laws face pushback amid bid to become leading tech powerCan you guess our screen time? A priest, pensioner, tech CEO and teenager reveal all Continue reading...
cnbc.com
World’s largest jeweler falls after analysts warn it will be hit by volatile silver price
While rising costs are squeezing Pandora's margins from one side, a deteriorating macroeconomic backdrop is hitting it from the other.
bbc.com
X offices raided in France as UK opens fresh investigation into Grok
Elon Musk's X and Grok platforms are facing increased scrutiny from authorities on both sides of the channel.
bbc.com
No defect found in switch of jet grounded by Air India - regulator
The Boeing 787-8 jet was grounded after a pilot reported a possible issue with the fuel control switch.
bbc.com
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr buys two rival brands in £50m deal
The company said the two brands reflect the consumer's switch from alcoholic beverages to "adult soft drinks".
cnbc.com
Nintendo keeps Switch 2 forecast as device sales pass 17 million units
Investors are weighing the impact of rising memory prices and the strength of Nintendo’s games pipeline ahead of the Switch 2.
bbc.com
One million people miss HMRC tax return deadline
The UK's tax authority says 27,456 people filed in the final hour before the cut-off at the end of Saturday.
cnbc.com
Nintendo Switch becomes the gaming giant's best-selling console ever
The success of the Switch was down to the innovative nature of the hardware, combined with strong games based on Nintendo's most popular characters.
bbc.com
EU has 'open mind' on UK customs union debate, says commissioner
Valdis Dombrovskis says the EU is willing to engage with Britain amid mounting global uncertainty.
cnbc.com
'Devil in the details': India-U.S. deal raises hopes for a reset — but the fine print remains unclear
The U.S. and India have finalized a trade deal on Monday after months of negotiations, steadying a relationship that had plummeted to its lowest point in decades.
bbc.com
Musk's SpaceX and xAI merge to make world's most valuable private company
Musk says the combined firm - which has been valued at more than $1tn - will be an "innovation engine".
theguardian.com
UK shoppers buy more fruit and yoghurt in healthy start to 2026
Britons cut back in January after record grocery spending in December, turning to own-label productsBusiness live – latest updatesBritons started 2026 by buying more healthy food such as fruit and yoghurt as they attempted to hit new year health goals, while grocery price inflation eased to the lowest level since April, research has shown.Annual grocery inflation fell back to 4% in the four weeks to 25 January from 4.7% in December, offering some relief for shoppers, according to a monthly snapshot of the grocery sector from the research company Worldpanel by Numerator. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
HMRC thinks I am someone else – and it’s costing me £450 a month
Tax authority has associated a stranger’s national insurance number to my own, and is charging me as if I have two jobsIn November, HM Revenue and Customs randomly associated someone else’s job to my national insurance (NI) number. I can see where they work, when they started, their payroll number and how much they are earning.HMRC is now taxing me as if I have two jobs, earning twice as much as I do, and adding on a tax adjustment for the tax it thinks I didn’t pay last year. It’s costing me about £450 a month in extra tax and NI contributions. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Hope and uncertainty as India and US strike long-delayed trade deal
Indian industry has welcomed lower tariffs, but experts caution against celebration until details are clearer.
bbc.com
Fears over impact if free car parking removed
Cornwall Council is consulting on proposals to remove free parking from 13 of its car parks.
theguardian.com
Student loans: why is Martin Lewis clashing with Rachel Reeves?
MoneySavingExpert founder has said changes that will lead to some graduates in England and Wales paying more are ‘not moral’Graduates in England and Wales: share your views on student loan repaymentsA fairly technical-sounding change to student loans tucked away in last November’s budget has become the catalyst for an increasingly bad-tempered row pitting the UK consumer champion Martin Lewis against the chancellor, Rachel Reeves.In one interview, Lewis – the founder of MoneySavingExpert.com, who boasts a vast following – said he did not think the planned change to repayment terms “was a moral thing”. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Interest rates: RBA concedes hike to 3.85% is ‘not the news mortgage holders want to hear’ – video
The governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), Michele Bullock, says she empathises with mortgage holders but defends Tuesday’s decision to lift the cash rate for the first time in more than two years. ‘Now, I know this is not the news that Australians with mortgages want to hear, but it is the right thing for the economy,’ says the governorRBA interest rates decision: Reserve Bank increases cash rate to 3.85% in blow to mortgage holders Continue reading...
theguardian.com
China to ban hidden car door handles on all EVs over crash safety concerns
Sleek car doors reduce vehicle drag but are prone to losing operability in the event of a crash, officials sayChina will soon ban concealed door handles on electric vehicles (EVs), becoming the first country to do so after several deadly incidents triggered global scrutiny of the controversial design first popularised by Tesla.According to regulations announced on Monday by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, cars sold in China will now be required to have a mechanical release on both the inside and outside of every door except the boot. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Riverford sales rise 6% as UK organics market enjoys biggest boom in two decades
Sector bounces back as consumers focus on provenance and healthy eating, but is still well behind EuropeConsumers searching for healthy food from trusted sources have fuelled the UK organic market’s biggest boom in two decades, according to vegetable box seller Riverford.The delivery business, which sells meat, cheese, cookbooks and recipe boxes alongside vegetables, recorded a 6% increase in sales to £117m in the year to May 2025, as the UK organic food and drink market grew by almost 9% in that year, according to new figures from the Soil Association. The strong growth, significantly outpacing the wider food market, helped the employee-owned business give a £1.1m bonus to workers. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Is silver a meme trade? How the metal became 'GameStop in 2026'
Silver's rapid surge and equally dramatic reversal ignited questions among investors: when does an asset start behaving like a meme?
theguardian.com
Will China replace the US on the world stage? – podcast
A succession of political leaders have been trooping to Beijing in recent months. Is it an indication of a new world order? Tania Branigan explainsXi Jinping had a busy January. First came the Irish taoiseach, Micheál Martin. Then it was Mark Carney of Canada’s turn. He was followed by the Finnish prime minister, the Uruguayan president and then, last week, Keir Starmer.But what does this rush to China mean? The Guardian leader writer Tania Branigan says much of it is to do with Trump. “There are real opportunities that people see in China – and at a point where the US looks so erratic, so hostile to people who have traditionally been among its staunchest allies. There is a sense that it just makes sense,” she tells Helen Pidd. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump unveils $12bn critical minerals stockpile scheme in apparent move to counter China’s dominance
Other countries are expected to join Project Vault, which US president said would ensure that US businesses are ‘never harmed by any shortage’Donald Trump has announced the creation of a critical mineral reserve worth nearly $12bn, a stockpile that could counter China’s ability to use its dominance of the hard-to-process metals as leverage in trade talks.“Today we’re launching what will be known as Project Vault to ensure that American businesses and workers are never harmed by any shortage,” Trump said at the White House on Monday. Continue reading...
bbc.com
China bans hidden car door handles over safety concerns
It makes China the first country to stop the use of designs first made popular by Elon Musk's Tesla.
bbc.com
The yachting industry searches for alternatives to teak
Prized for its beauty, teak is in short supply, forcing the yacht industry to look for alternatives.
theguardian.com
Barnsley rebranded UK’s first ‘tech town’ as US giants join AI push
Minister announces Microsoft, Cisco and Adobe to help apply AI to local schools, hospitals, GPs and businessesIn 2002 Barnsley toyed with a redesign as a Tuscan hill village as it sought out a brighter post-industrial future. In 2021 it adopted the airily vague slogan “the place of possibilities”. Now it is trying a different image: Britain’s first “tech town”.The technology secretary, Liz Kendall, has anointed the South Yorkshire community as a trailblazer for “how AI can improve everyday life” in the UK. Continue reading...
cnbc.com
Elon Musk's SpaceX acquiring AI startup xAI ahead of potential IPO
Musk is combining rocket maker SpaceX with his AI startup, the largest tie-up in his expansive business portfolio.
cnbc.com
Trump says U.S. and India reached trade deal, will lower tariffs immediately
The U.S. and India have reached a trade deal to lower tariffs, President Donald Trump announced.
theguardian.com
US jobs report delayed again amid government shutdown
January 2026 report to be rescheduled after BLS has already been faced with major delays from last year’s shutdownThe US’s closely watched jobs report will once again be delayed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) announced on Monday, amid a government shutdown.The January 2026 jobs report, originally scheduled to be released on Friday, will be rescheduled when federal funding resumes. Data collection for the report has been completed, but the shutdown has forced a delay to releasing the report, which will provide crucial jobs data on the US labor market following the weakest year for job growth since 2020, with the addition of only 584,000 jobs in 2025 compared with 2 million in 2024. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Gold and silver prices fall but FTSE 100 hits record high
Precious metal prices hit record highs in January as investors parked their money in "safe havens".
bbc.com
Disney warns of hit from flagging foreign visits
The company says international visits to its US parks are weakening, with analysts pointing to President Donald Trump's policies.
bbc.com
Warning for sellers amid rollercoaster gold and silver prices
Experts say there are things to consider before selling off your gold or silver.
bbc.com
Captain guilty of North Sea tanker crash death
Vladimir Motin is convicted of gross negligence manslaughter after a crew member died in the crash.
theguardian.com
UK manufacturing growth accelerates as export orders rise
Greater optimism in PMI survey, adding to signs Bank of England will keep interest rates on hold this weekBritish manufacturers enjoyed one of their best months since Labour came to power in January, according to a closely watched survey, adding to signs that the Bank of England will decide to keep interest rates on hold this week.The purchasing managers’ index (PMI), which measures activity in the private manufacturing sector, rose to 51.8 in January from 50.6 in December, the best reading since August 2024. Any reading above 50 represents growth. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Graduates in England and Wales: share your views on student loan repayments
We’d like to hear from graduates about how they’re faring with paying back student loans. Have you experienced large increases in outstanding debt? In last year’s budget Rachel Reeves froze the salary threshold for plan 2 loan repayments for three years from April 2027 – which means borrowers will have to pay even more towards their student loans as they benefit from pay rises.Student finance is made up of a tuition fee loan, which covers course fees and is paid directly to the university, and a maintenance loan, which is designed to help with costs such as rent and food. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Faisal Islam: Mandelson, Darling and the conversation I can't forget
The Epstein files appear to give extraordinary context to a call between the former chancellor and JP Morgan's boss.
theguardian.com
UK investor Michael Flacks ‘very interested in British Steel takeover’
Businessman, who says he is a ‘big, bullish believer’, would combine Scunthorpe steelworks with Italian plantBusiness news – latest updatesThe British investor Michael Flacks is reportedly “very” interested in buying British Steel and combining it with another plant in Italy, in a deal that would create one of Europe’s largest metals groups.The businessman’s Miami-based investment group, Flacks Group, which specialises in buying distressed companies, is working with bankers to prepare a bid for government-controlled Scunthorpe steelworks, the Financial Times reported. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Drivers can compare fuel prices at different petrol stations - how does it work?
Pump price changes will have to be shared in a government database within 30 minutes.
cnbc.com
From Clawdbot to Moltbot to OpenClaw: Meet the AI agent generating buzz and fear globally
OpenClaw, formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot, has created massive buzz from Silicon Valley to Beijing due to its impressive capabilities, but also its quirks and risks.
bbc.com
The 'fantastic' baby bundles not every mum will get
Baby boxes are being delivered to expectant families in some of Wales' most deprived areas.
theguardian.com
Is Trump winning or losing his war on offshore wind power?
The US president tried to kill offshore wind projects – now four are back under constructionConstruction has resumed on four offshore wind mega-projects after they survived a near-fatal attack by Donald Trump’s administration thanks to rulings by federal judges. These are being seen as victories for clean energy amid a wider war being waged on it by the Trump administration.The windfarms are considered critical by grid planners as America faces an energy affordability crisis. Together, the four projects will contribute nearly five gigawatts of energy to the east coast, enough to power 3.5m homes. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Most of Great Britain’s major rail operators are back in public hands – is it working?
Explore the Guardian’s tracker to see which operators are nationalised and if services are improving under public ownershipThe majority of Great Britain’s major rail operators are now in public ownership, as the Labour government continues its efforts to make the railways “more reliable, affordable and accessible”.The nationalisation of West Midlands Trains on 1 February represents the tenth major passenger service to be brought back into public ownership, leaving six to go before the government’s deadline of completing every operator by 2027. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Self-driving taxis are coming to London – should we be worried? | Jack Stilgoe
Waymo’s cars were first rolled out in San Francisco, but the English capital’s old roads, pelican crossings and jaywalkers may pose issues for AIAt the end of the 19th century, the world’s major cities had a problem. The streets were flooded with manure, the unintended consequence of dependence on horses as the major form of transport. In this sea of filth, the infant car industry smelled an opportunity. The Horseless Age, a US car magazine, claimed in 1896 that, with the spread of motorcars, “streets will be cleaner, jams and blockades less likely to occur, and accidents less frequent, for the horse is not so manageable as a mechanical vehicle”. The streets did eventually become cleaner, but not safer. Cars brought huge benefits to society, but also huge challenges. By the end of the 20th century, cars and motorbikes were implicated in more than a million deaths a year around the world, as well as contributing to pollution and suburban sprawl.This story is often told to show that the inevitable march of innovation brings both solutions and problems. However, there was nothing inevitable about US cities becoming dominated by cars. As the historian Peter Norton describes in his book Fighting Traffic, it was a direct result of lobbying by the US car industry. It campaigned for the removal of public transport, the banning of jaywalking and the redesign of streets. The advent of the car in the US is a useful cautionary tale as we consider the introduction of self-driving cars into our lives – especially in the UK.Jack Stilgoe is a professor in science and technology studies at University College London Continue reading...
bbc.com
Starbucks bets on robots to brew a turnaround in customers
Chief executive Brian Niccol explains why he thinks AI will help the coffee giant regain its buzz.
theguardian.com
The Guardian view on the EU’s answer to Trump: trade without threats | Editorial
Europe’s India and Vietnam deals signal a historic shift away from coercion towards cooperation that respects developing countries’ sovereignty For the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s trade pact with India was the “mother of all deals”. Seen from the other end of the telescope, it looked like the mouse of all deals, with just €4bn (£3.5bn) in tariff reductions – a rounding error in a €180bn trading relationship. But that misses the point: this is about economic heavyweights resetting the terms of their cooperation because of Donald Trump’s use of tariffs as a tool of economic and political compulsion.Last week marked a turning point. In upgrading ties with Vietnam in the wake of its India deal, Europe is no longer trying to lock Asian partners into fixed industrial roles. The EU wants Hanoi to move into hi-tech production. That shift will probably displace Vietnam’s labour-intensive manufacturing elsewhere. India is an obvious beneficiary, able to absorb that demand. Continue reading...
bbc.com
Harry Styles and Anthony Joshua among UK's top taxpayers
The former One Direction member-turned-solo artist appears on the Sunday Times list for the first time.
theguardian.com
Employers are spreading raises like peanut butter – and workers are paying the price | Gene Marks
These across-the-board raises to all employees versus individual performance-based raises are simply lazyLooking forward to a raise in 2026? You may be getting “peanut butter”.A new report from compensation software and data provider Payscale predicts that in 2026, many employers will be giving “peanut butter raises” to their employees – increases given “across the board” as opposed to being calculated individually based on performance or merit. They’re spread evenly, like peanut butter on a slice of bread. Continue reading...
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French tech giant Capgemini to sell US subsidiary working for ICE
The firm's move comes amid global scrutiny of the methods used by the US immigration enforcement agency.
theguardian.com
The long-term cost of high student debt in the UK is not just for graduates | Heather Stewart
Labour’s changes to the student loan system have turned frustration into full-blown fury, which is likely to benefit its opponents at the ballot boxStudent loans: ‘My debt rose £20,000 to £77,000 even though I’m paying’“It is not right that people who don’t go to university are having to bear all the cost for others to do so,” Rachel Reeves remarked this week, amid the increasingly angry row about student loans.But if something is “not right” here, it’s the complex and confusing loan system, and the debt burden borne by some recent graduates of English and Welsh universities. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Why TikTok’s first week of American ownership was a disaster
App endured a major outage and user backlash over perceived censorship. Now it’s facing an inquiry by the California governor and an ascendant competitorA little more than one week ago, TikTok stepped on to US shores as a naturalized citizen. Ever since, the video app has been fighting for its life.TikTok’s calamitous emigration began on 22 January when its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, finalized a deal to sell the app to a group of US investors, among them the business software giant Oracle. The app’s time under Chinese ownership had been marked by a meteoric ascent to more than a billion users, which left incumbents such as Instagram looking like the next Myspace. But TikTok’s short new life in the US has been less than auspicious. Continue reading...
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Rare earths and data centres: India pushes local industry as global tensions rise
India's budget focuses on infrastructure and defence spending and tax breaks for data-centre investments.
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Asda has lost its mojo and has a big fight to get it back
The industry data suggests that despite Asda embarking on a turnaround, it has been losing ground to rivals.
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US Commerce Secretary Lutnick planned Epstein island visit, emails show
The emails show Lutnick and his family planned a trip to Little Saint James, a private island Epstein purchased in 1998.
theguardian.com
Can French Connection make FCUK fashionable again?
With a North American licensing deal under its belt, the reinvented high-street giant is growing again under new owners and a global strategyFrench Connection is back on the trail of global expansion with the aid of its cheeky initials-based slogan that made it so popular in the late 1990s.The label once known for clothes bearing FCUK is seeking to reinvent itself again under the ownership of a group of British entrepreneurs based in the north of England who rescued it in 2021. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Thousands may lose out as Post Office closes main Horizon compensation scheme
Hundreds of claims still arriving each month, raising fears eligible operators will lose out on redressThe Post Office is to close the largest compensation scheme for post office operators affected by the Horizon scandal this weekend, leaving potentially thousands of claimants out of pocket for losses produced by the faulty IT system.The Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS), which will close for new applicants at 11.59pm on Saturday, has received more than 9,500 submissions, according to the latest public data to 19 December. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Trump has tapped a new Federal Reserve chair. Has he finally found his yes-man?
Trump nominated Kevin Warsh, an ex-Fed governor, for the role as the White House continues to attack Jerome PowellThe US Federal Reserve requires “strong, sound and steady leadership”, according to Donald Trump. The president found a man to lead the central bank who would “provide exactly that type of leadership”, he declared.“He’s strong, he’s committed and he’s smart.”This is not how Trump described Kevin Warsh, the former Fed governor whom he unveiled as his new nominee to chair the central bank on Friday – but how he hailed Jerome Powell, the current Fed chair, when nominating him for the job about eight years ago. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Alarm raised over Chinese CCTV cameras guarding ‘symbol of democracy’ Magna Carta
Campaigners criticise use of ‘vulnerable’ devices at Salisbury Cathedral and Parthenon despite their removal from sensitive UK government sitesSecurity cameras guarding Magna Carta are provided by a Chinese CCTV company whose technology has allegedly aided the persecution of Uyghurs and been exploited by Russia during the invasion of Ukraine, it has emerged.In letters seen by the Guardian, campaigners called on Salisbury Cathedral, which houses one of four surviving copies of the “powerful symbol of social justice”, to rip out cameras made by Dahua Technology, based in the Chinese city of Hangzhou. Continue reading...
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Plan ahead and dress wisely: How to minimise add-on costs when you fly
Don't get swept into paying for extras you don't need.
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Phone lines stay open as tax return deadline looms
More than one million people missed the deadline a year ago, according to HM Revenue and Customs.
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Seven UK Labubu shops to open, after PM's China visit
The furry dolls have a signature spiky-toothed grin and became a viral purchase last summer.
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Will Trump's pick to lead US central bank get him the change he wants?
Opinion is divided over whether Warsh will align with the US president's views over how the Federal Reserve should be run.
theguardian.com
Is it time to break up with US big tech? - The Latest
With Donald Trump tearing up the world order, governments across Europe are having to confront the fact that most of the technology they rely on comes from US companies. French officials have taken a step this week to reduce their dependence on US digital infrastructure, announcing they have stopped using Zoom, the US-owned video meeting software, in favour of a French-made program. But how viable is this? And what are the risks? The Guardian’s Michael Safi speaks to the tech journalist Chris Stokel-Walker Continue reading...
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Trump picks Kevin Warsh to lead the US Federal Reserve
The 55-year-old economist had been considered for Fed chair during Trump's first term.
bbc.com
How Guest Dragon Jenna Meek likes to do business
Jenna Meek joins the Dragons' Den as a guest for the first time.
theguardian.com
On Polymarket, ‘privileged’ users made millions betting on war strikes and diplomatic strategy. What did they know beforehand?
The prediction market’s disciples and CEO believe its an unbiased way of knowing the future. But experts warn users could reshape the world to win bigIn the early hours of 13 June, more than 200 Israeli fighter jets began pummeling Iran with bombs, lighting up the Tehran skyline and initiating a 12-day war that would leave hundreds dead.But for one user of the prediction market Polymarket, it was their lucky day. In the 24 hours before the strike occurred, they had bet tens of thousands of dollars on “yes” on the market “Israel military action against Iran by Friday?” when the prospect still seemed unlikely and odds were hovering at about 10%. After the strike, Polymarket declared that military action had been taken, and paid the user $128,000 for their lucky wager. Continue reading...
theguardian.com
Starmer says progress made on tariffs and visa-free travel in Beijing talks – video
Keir Starmer hailed the economic benefits of resetting relations with China during a visit to Beijing – the first by a British prime minister in eight years. Starmer said bilateral meetings with China's president, Xi Jinping, and its premier, Li Qiang, 'made some real progress', and announced the halving of tariffs on whisky and visa-free travel to China for British citizens. It comes after Donald Trump warned the UK against doing business with ChinaTrump says ‘very dangerous’ for UK to do business with China, after Starmer hails progress in Beijing Continue reading...
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Visit the North Sea oil field used to store greenhouse gas
Hundreds of miles from Denmark's coast a project is underway to inject CO2 into an old oil field.
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The Apprentice is back! Meet the new candidates
Twenty candidates are hoping to secure a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar.
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'You don't feel judged': Why we buy more at self-service terminals
How restaurants and retailers use behavioural science to get us to increase our spending.
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Watch: Why Trump is hitting the road to rally Americans
The BBC's White House reporter Bernd Debusmann explains why the president is refocusing his attention on the US economy.
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Can India be a player in the computer chip industry?
India is investing hundreds of millions of dollars in building up a computer chip industry.
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Caribbean cannabis growers eye budding domestic sales and exports
Producers in Jamaica and Antigua hope that increasing liberalisation will lead to higher revenues.
bbc.co.uk
Good Bad Billionaire
How Gymshark's Ben Francis went from pizza delivery boy to the UK’s youngest billionaire
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1975: Could you do your food shop just once a year?
Grocery shopping with a couple who bought all their supplies yearly rather than weekly.
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Trump covets mineral-rich Greenland, but what natural resources does it actually have?
Greenland's natural resources include large reserves of rare earth deposits.
bbc.com
AI ready: The advantages of being a young entrepreneur
The latest generation of entrepreneurs have a head-start with AI but also face familiar challenges.
bbc.com
How Slovakia became the world's number one carmaker
The European country is the biggest autos manufacturer relative to the size of its population.
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Trump says tiny cars are amazing but will Americans actually buy them?
The president wants to bring to the US tiny vehicles, like those commonly seen on the streets of Japan.
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Are 'tech dense' farms the future of farming?
A host of technology is on offer to farmers, promising to raise farming yields and lower food prices.
bbc.com
The real impact of roadworks on the country - and why they're set to get worse
There is a fine balance between the benefits of improved infrastructure, versus the cost of disruption. Does the country have it right?
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Why the railways often seem to be in such chaos over Christmas
Parts of Britain’s rail network will close for engineering work over the festive period - but is that the right time to do it?
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Budget 2025: What's the best and worst that could happen for Labour?
Three days in, after a tax U-turn and partial climbdown on workers' rights, Laura Kuenssberg looks at what impact Budget week might have.
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Has Britain's budget watchdog become too all-powerful?
Ahead of this week's Budget, some have accused the Office for Budget Responsibility of being a "straitjacket on growth"
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The curious case of why Poundland is struggling during a cost-of-living crisis
Why - in an age where so many of us are feeling the financial pinch - are some budget shops on UK high streets having such a tough time?
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